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For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

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Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#71
post #47

Here's a related graph [1] supporting this conclusion, that remote work has recently increased. This graph shows the frequency of "remote" in HN Who's Hiring posts over time. [1] https://iblaine.github.io/assets/images/projects/graph-remot...

But:

- the count of any word probably increases over time. Need proportion instead. But maybe I misunderstood your graph

- “the job is currently remote but you will be expected to work from our office in X in the near future”

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#72
I dunno, for a group of people who seem to believe you're worth a ridiculous amount of money per hour, think of what your time is worth. You folks that make a living programming off exceedingly decent wages.

You don't break your bodies every day, you're not forced to spend all day moving wood and metal, filling bags full of garbage, hauling shit that weighs 50+ lbs all day every day.

You just gotta sit and think and come up with solutions to problems.

Having done both, I'd fucking far rather receive large amounts of money to sit in front of a computer all day than break myself for $20-$30 an hour.

If there's one thing I have to say about computer programmers and their entitlement.

Suck it up, take a pay cut and take your free time, you're already overpaid for shit that's not going to kill you and now you get the option to sit at home and work for slightly less money, still more than someone who kills themself every day for a pay cheque.

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#73
post #61
post #53

The arguments in this comment section have been rehashed so many times on HN now it is becoming hilarious. Who would have thought that office vs remote is the emacs vs vim of the 2020s.

We need a evil mode

Work from the office but closed off in a meeting room/private office and never talk to anyone in person? Or work remotely but you have to do it from a noisy coffee shop and the company provides a card to buy snacks?

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#74
post #66
post #56

Didn't read the article - no access, just some thoughts: the downward pressure on wages will probably become a norm for WFH. Google has already set a precedent. However, unless it takes another unexpected turn, WFH is win-win-win: companies can save on office space and a bit on reduced salaries too; employees will have a healthier life and the freedom to live in cheaper locations; and finally WFH is good for the envi…

Agree on most counts apart from the efficient communication angle. Purely anecdotal but I find that the number of meetings has grown significantly since constant WFH became the norm. In the past, most meetings required a meeting room whereas now, as long as the meeting organiser can see that most people have an open space in their calendar, a meeting can be arranged. Not an insurmountable problem but I find myself pr…

I know what you mean, but we can hope it's temporary. Remote work requires some adjustment in work culture.

I just thought there's another interesting upside for workers: you are now more flexible in changing jobs since obviously you are no longer tied to the location. So eventually you might find an employer who is more WFH friendly and manages the communication better. And that should put pressure on your existing employer too!

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the more removed your job as a programmer is from those "posted on HN" or in the FAANGM realm and is more solid enterprisey "Line of Business" type work the GREATER leverage you have in telling an employer to go pound sand if they want to get back to a butts in seats world. We've been full remote for 18 months with only tentative plans to go to a 3/2 office/remote sitch by next year (with team options to go e…

I don't share your optimism. From what I see in France, there's a ton of competition in "consulting". Not freelance, mind, but body shops renting out developers. The end clients have a tendency to think of those devs as completely interchangeable (that's the main reason they give when asked why they don't hire directly). I have a hard time seeing how telling them to pound sand can have a serious effect, especially si…

Your situation and the OP's are different... it sounds kind of awful what you describe, a bit like how renting a house and giving a major slice of your income to the landlord tends to make it you're never going to be able to buy a house.

It sounds like you need a different kind of job to have a way forward.

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#76

As preferable as WFH is for many and as productive as many people can be while working remote, at the end of the day, you can't change human nature. There is a reason why companies like Google are doubling down in Silicon Valley real estate. They believe that the best, most innovative type of work are the results of organic discussions and unscheduled, unplanned, casual human interactions. So many cool ideas and new…

As long as companies are run by human there will be politics, favoritism, subjective impressions, subjective biases, and "out of sight, out of mind" selective memories. This paragraph kind of falls under "Never attribute to malice what is readily explained by stupidity." Those organic conversations may not happen in Slack but they can happen online. Most people don't actively foster them and many people may not know…

>Not knowing how isn't proof it can't be done.

Human interaction skills falls into the category of things that knowledge doesn't even remotely guarantee outcome.

You can teach a group of socially awkward and introvert people an entire 4 years course of how to be a charismatic socialite and most of them still won't become one.

> Lots of things are currently happening in the world that were just science fiction not that long ago.

And lots of things are still happening in the exact same way it has happened for thousands of years. Technology can very often amplify human instincts, but it will very rarely undo them.

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#77

As preferable as WFH is for many and as productive as many people can be while working remote, at the end of the day, you can't change human nature. There is a reason why companies like Google are doubling down in Silicon Valley real estate. They believe that the best, most innovative type of work are the results of organic discussions and unscheduled, unplanned, casual human interactions. So many cool ideas and new…

As long as companies are run by human there will be politics, favoritism, subjective impressions, subjective biases, and "out of sight, out of mind" selective memories. This paragraph kind of falls under "Never attribute to malice what is readily explained by stupidity." Those organic conversations may not happen in Slack but they can happen online. Most people don't actively foster them and many people may not know…

> Not knowing how

How? Genuinely want to know

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#78
post #16

Right now companies havent figured out how to handle this situation and are playing along. I'm sure, sooner or later tides will turn and either you'll be roped into coming to office or take a pay cut for working remotely. So enjoy while it last!!

It certainly looks like companies are desperate to hire qualified people and the dev job market is pretty hot right now. That should certainly give devs some leverage.

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#79
post #56

Didn't read the article - no access, just some thoughts: the downward pressure on wages will probably become a norm for WFH. Google has already set a precedent. However, unless it takes another unexpected turn, WFH is win-win-win: companies can save on office space and a bit on reduced salaries too; employees will have a healthier life and the freedom to live in cheaper locations; and finally WFH is good for the envi…

> Didn't read the article - no access

With JS disabled, I can read it perfectly well (Firefox, Privacy Badger, and NoScript, from the U.S.A.).

Re: For programmers, remote working is becoming the norm

#80
post #5
post #3

I don’t think this is going to last forever but I am trying to take advantage of this remote Pax Romana as long as possible by cramming my big life events in now while my stress and job time commitments are low. I’m certain that either wages will be depressed for remote workers, the jobs will be sent offshore, or companies will recall everyone but there’s a window to be taken advantage of right now. I’ll certainly po…

What are less volatile industries with well paying jobs?

Specialization in cooling/coolant related industries. With mad global warming that is just getting started, we are bound to need efficiencies in those industries and those who have the know-how will be in high demand. Also, I'm not aware of any engineer in those industries reading about a new framework every six months and having to do agile stand-ups.
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